EA’s Weekly RAW YouTube Report (8/20/18)

As we all know, social media and other outlets have become a huge means of drawing in interaction and viewers for WWE. Most people will point to television ratings like they did during the Monday Night Wars in the late 1990’s, however that can be skewed with so many various means of watching today that do not include cable television.

As you’ve become accustomed to, here is this week’s RAW YouTube Report (2:30 PM EST, 8/22/18):

1. The Shield reunites to take out Braun Strowman – 4.7 million views
2. Ronda Rousey makes Stephanie McMahon feel the armbar again – 3.3 million views
3. Roman Reigns gives Finn Balor a Universal Title match – 2.1 million views
4. The Shield celebrates after RAW goes off the air – 2 million views
5. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler – 1.6 million views
6. Triple H has unfinished business with The Undertaker – 1.4 million views
7. Kurt Angle informs Paul Heyman that Brock Lesnar won’t get his rematch – 1 million views

This week’s post-SummerSlam edition of RAW gives us no surprises on the YouTube report, as it’s dominated by the newly reunited Shield with four of the top five spots. Number one is no shocker, as the main event featured the Universal Title on the line, a teased cash-in by Braun Strowman and arguably the biggest moment of the evening with the reunion of one of WWE’s most popular factions of all-time, The Shield. ‘The Hounds of Justice’ not only take the top position, but come in at number three with Reigns agreeing to give Finn Balor a shot at the title in the opening segment, their post-main event celebration and Dean Ambrose’s television return match. I’d expect them to be neck-and-neck with Ronda Rousey in our reports for as long as this reunion lasts.

The aforementioned Rousey doesn’t make the top of the list this week, but only because of The Shield reunion as she still rakes in over 3 million views by again attacking Stephanie McMahon’s arm. I think you can give some credit to Stephanie because people will always want to see her get her ass kicked, but you’ve got to go by track record as well. Despite what anyone thinks about her getting the title, these YouTube reports are the exact reason why Ronda deserves to have it. She brings casual viewers, which is how you grow a business and make money. Placating to the fans that are already in hook, line and sinker doesn’t do that.

More big names fill out our list this week as a mere promo for WWE’s Super Show-Down by Triple H pulls 1.4 million views. Again, more evidence that character and star power is what draws. Just ask Chris Jericho, one of the better workers in the history of the business who even admits, that great wrestling doesn’t draw. We see more evidence of that at number seven, as a simple backstage segment with Kurt Angle and Paul Heyman still grabs a million. Why? It’s not because of Angle and Heyman, it’s because of the subject matter, which happens to be…who? Brock Lesnar. So of the top seven, only TWO involved in-ring action when there was six other matches on the same night.

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